Bink and Gollie: Two for One

Description

"Utterly chuckle-worthy, charming, and (thank goodness) still refreshing." - Kirkus Reviews The state fair is in town, and now Bink and Gollie - utter opposites and best friends extraordinaire - must use teamwork and their gray matter while navigating its many wonders. Will the energetic Bink win the world's largest donut in the Whack-a-Duck game? Will the artistic Gollie wow the crowd in the talent show? As the undaunted duo steps into the mysterious tent of fortune-teller Madame Prunely, one prediction is crystal clear: this unlikely pair will always be the closest of pals. Get ready for more laughs in this wry, warmhearted sequel to the New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book Bink and Gollie, written by the award-winning, best-selling Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee and featuring the exuberant visual humor of illustrator Tony Fucile.

Best friends Bink and Gollie are complete opposites in terms of appearance; they are kindred spirits, though, and readers will delight in sharing in their adventures at the state fair... Short, compact sentences make this book an ideal selection for beginning readers... Fucile employs an economical use of sketchy lines and splashes of color to capture facial expressions and emotions with spot-on accuracy. His artwork goes a long way in making this title the funny, touching book that it is. It would be no surprise if Bink and Gollie were to join the likes of Elephant and Piggie and Frog and Toad in the ranks of favorite friend duos. -School Library Journal (starred review) B&G again hit that sweet spot where picture books, graphic novels, and early readers converge... The book follows a satisfying trajectory from the first story's slapstick through the second's pathos to conclude with the affirmation of friendship in the third, and the blend of humor and sympathetic warmth buoys the story throughout. This endearing partnership remains a treat to follow, and readers will be as delighted as Bink and Gollie about the fortune-teller-certified long-term soundness of their friendship. -The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review) Fucile's lively artwork and detailed cartoon-style drawings, in combination with DiCamillo and McGhee's simple, droll words, are spot-on when it comes to depicting humorous and sympathetic moments, and they excel in highlighting the great joys of best friendship. Kids will be left eagerly anticipating the further adventures of this unlikely-and completely charming-duo. -Booklist Winsome duo Bink and Gollie are back, this time zipping through a day at the state fair... Bink and Gollie's second adventure won't disappoint. Utterly chuckle-worthy, charming and (thank goodness) still refreshing. Friendships can be tricky to navigate, but if youngsters find half of the joy and loyalty of this pair, they'll be set. -Kirkus Reviews The odd-couple besties star in three new stories that take place at a state fair... DiCamillo and McGhee's all-dialogue text is crisp and character specific: Bink, perpetually overexcited, speaks in short, caffeinated bursts while Gollie's thoughts emerge fully formed. Fucile's digital illustrations, black and white with frequent, strategic pops of color, use copious motion lines and cinematic views. -The Horn Book Another welcome sequel...illustrated with zany energy. Here the mismatched best friends compete at the state fair to win a large doughnut, "nature's most perfect food," and together "travel the darkened path" to a gypsy tent, where a wizened Madame Prunely gives them a lovely glimpse of the future. -The Wall Street Journal Vivacious design, winning illustrations and funny, fresh dialogue waltz harmoniously in this charming tribute to a friendship. -Shelf Awareness Both Bink and Gollie books are surely destined to be classics. Here's hoping that if Madame Prunely peeked into readers' futures, she would foretell our enjoying many more books in this series. -Kidsreads.com Superbly crafted... These are stories that highlight all the ups and downs of two best buds who know each other well, and they're written with humor and empathy. -Seven Impossible Things blog These short, funny, and tender-hearted tales peer even deepr into the lives of two unlikely friends. Let's hope the trio ofe DiCamillo, McGhee, and Fucile team up yet again to see what mischeif they-and Bink and Gollie-can get into! -BookPage The theme of this charming book is, once again, strong and enduring friendship. -Minneapolis Star Tribune The first time out, DiCamillo, McGhee, and Fucile knocked it out of the park, and this strong follow up is a book that deserves plenty of notice as well. -100 Scope Notes